Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[farmer boy]

i hope some at least hatch today

 

[stonykill]

Stony knows what he's talking about as he's hatched or rather his broodies have hatched bunches of chicks

I usually peek without lifting them off the nest, but only briefly and only after I see evidence of a hatched chick or its past their due date. They can hatch between days 18 and days 25.

more than 30 broody's in the last 16 months...................

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

  more than 30 broody's in the last 16 months...................

WOW! That's a LOT of of broodies! *I bow to your experience*

 

[stonykill]

WOW! That's a LOT of of broodies! *I bow to your experience*

lol, it is all on the girls. I just leave them be and let them do the work. Chickens are better at being chickens than we humans are

 

[Miss Lydia]

Congrats on all the pipping and hatching , we're processing roos but just wanted to pop in say say Congrats and Howdy~!!!

 

[farmer boy]

well nothing hatching for me yet it sucks i hope they hatch today

 

[Terri O]

Hi all--I am going to try this post here because it is but isnt an emergency...
I have many broody hens that do most of my hatching for me. This year they are now on their second broods and I am suddenly having problems with the chicks. when they get to be about 2 weeks old suddenly one eye will stick shut, they stop eating and look and act lethargic. Then they die. I have never had this problem with hatched chicks before. I thought it was just a few weak ones at first but today there are 3 more that look affected. They are from different mamas too. All of them run loose on the farm and do their own thing. I did bring two in and gave them some
Vet Rx--they died within two days.
What do you think? Should I just let it run it's course or is there something I can do now or in the future? I would hate for this to become an ongoing thing...

Thanks for any help you can give! Terri O

 

[bobbieschicks]

Congrats on all the pipping and hatching , we're processing roos but just wanted to pop in say say Congrats and Howdy~!!! 

Hi Miss Lydia! Good to hear from you. I'll be processing any remaining roos next weekend in anticipation of the new arrivals from Topsy and Smokey. I'm rehoming my 3 oldest roosters to good homes. And keeping just one of the baby silkie cockerels. Any others will be sold or processed by next Saturday.

 

[bobbieschicks]

well nothing hatching for me yet it sucks i hope they hatch today 

The last time my broodies hatched I was convinced there was nothing going to happen. It was after day 21 so I was worried. But smokey hatched 4 out of 8 and Topsy hatched 2 out of 3.

Hang in there

 

[farmer boy]

lol i just can't wait im going chicken crazy

i will stay on all day to keep you guys posted